City Cast Portland
☃️ Is Oregon really ready for winter?
December 6, 2024 · — Adrian González
It’s Friday, y’all! Maybe I’m just a transportation nerd, but I feel like we should add “infrastructure” to the list of subjects to avoid in certain company — the birds, bees, and buses, if you will. And for a city with relatively few snow days, there’s nothing like a winter storm to spark debates about how much (or little) Oregon spends on its roads.
Today on the City Cast Portland Podcast, we dive into the financial issues at the Oregon Department of Transportation and what they mean for winter preparedness. Plus, we dive into the other stories of the week.
What's CITY Talking About?
🧑⚖️ DOJ Steps In After Alleged Doctor Abuse Case Stalls
The Oregon Department of Justice is taking over the investigation of Dr. David B. Farley, who is facing accusations of decades-long sexual abuse by more than 200 former patients. Clackamas County District Attorney John D. Wentworth, who’s been heading the case, requested the transfer after allegations of mishandling by local authorities. [Oregonian 🔒]
🚲 Reconsidering the $15 Bike Tax
Oregon lawmakers are evaluating changes to the Bicycle Excise Tax, introduced in 2018 as part of a transportation funding package, during the upcoming legislative session. The tax raises around $833,000 annually, but critics say it’s regressive and disproportionately impacts lower-cost bike buyers. [BikePortland]
- Related: How to buy the perfect Portland bicycle. [City Cast Portland 🎧]
🥶 More Free Air Conditioners On the Way
The Cooling Portland initiative, a program that helps distribute free air conditioners to low-income and high-risk residents, is expanding after the City Council approved $10.3 million in additional funding. The program has a goal of installing 25,000 units by 2026. [Oregonian 🔒]
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Where Is It?
This lovely metallic face is called “Splash” by the artist Michael Benisty. Located at the new Splash Apartments on 27th and NE Sandy, the sculpture is 20 feet tall and weighs 6,000 pounds. Check out Benisty’s Instagram for videos of how the artwork was installed and what it represents.
Reader Mike Heavers was reminded of a certain sci-fi classic: “This is the Splash apartments in the old Pepsi bottling plant next to the zipper. My friends and I joked that the statue looks like the evil T-1000 from Terminator when he gets his face blown off.”
“I like the sculpture, but don’t love the look of the new apartment complex. It’s not a rich color and the whole complex is rather ‘busy,'” said reader Tammy Hernandez.
Give it up for the rest of the first ten readers who guessed correctly: Nicole Patty, Clara White, Rosanne Marmor, Lisa B, Hannah Kersse, Bernhild Nieswandt, and Jane A. Black.
⬇️ Now onto this week's scavenger hunt, courtesy of reader Mel Maehara.
Do you know where this handy mural is? Hint: It’s around the corner from some of Hollywood’s best. 😉
📸 Want to submit a photo? Send me a snapshot of somewhere in the Portland metro area, and we’ll consider it for an upcoming Where Is It? segment!
What To Do
Friday, Dec. 6
- 🎁 Mt. Angel Hazelnut Fest | 3 - 7 p.m. (various times through Sunday) | Free Admission | Mt. Angel, Ore.
- 🏃 Festive Fleece Fun Run (all ages) | 5 p.m. | $10 | Tigard
- 🍴🎁 Portland Night Market | 4 - 11 p.m. | Free entry (though tickets available to skip the line) | Buckman neighborhood
- 🍺 Portland Holiday Brew Fest | 5:30 - 9 p.m. (various times through Sunday) | $26.05+ (entrance plus 6 drink tokens) | Pioneer Courthouse Square
- 🧑🎨 First Friday Art Walk | 6 - 9 p.m. | Free | Eastside
- 🎵 Steve Wilson with the PSU Jazz Band | 7 p.m. | $20 | Lincoln Hall (Portland State)
- 🎵 PSU Choirs: ‘Threads of Harmony’ | 7:30 p.m. | $20 | First Christian Church (Downtown)
Saturday, Dec. 7
- 🐦 Wild Arts Festival | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | $13 | Wingspan Event Center (Washington County Fairgrounds)
- 🇳🇴 ScanFair: Nordic Christmas Market (Finnish Santa and 100+ vendors) | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | $15 | Oregon Convention Center
- 🍵 Winter Wonderland Holiday Tea (Doja Tea Lounge pop-up) | 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. | $70 | Opal 28 (Kerns neighborhood)
- 🎁 Weihnachtsmarkt: A German Christmas Market | 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. | $7.18 | German American Society (Rose City Park neighborhood)
- 🤝 William Temple House’s Annual Open House (Live jazz, tours, games) | 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. | Free | Northwest District
- 🎄 Umbrella Parade and Tree Lighting | 4 - 6 p.m. | Free | Downtown Milwaukie
Sunday, Dec. 8
- 🐦 Wild Arts Festival | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | $13 | Wingspan Event Center (Washington County Fairgrounds)
- 🇳🇴 ScanFair: Nordic Christmas Market (Finnish Santa and 100+ vendors) | 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. | $15 | Oregon Convention Center
- 🎭 ’Black Nativity’ | 2 p.m. (various times through Dec. 15) | $48 | Downtown
- 🧑🎤 ‘The Gift of the Magi’ (opera) | 3 p.m. (last day) | $45 | Lincoln Hall Studio Theater (Portland State University)
- 🍴 Hayward x Astral (evening supper series) | 4 - 9 p.m. | Free admission / no reservation | Duality Brewing (Kerns)
Heads up: Portland General Electric is warning residents of scam texts asking people to make an immediate payment or risk losing electricity. If you received one of these texts, ignore it and check your account online.
Thanks for reading this week! I’ll talk to you on Monday.
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